Ritchie County Sheriffs
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The following is courtesy of Ritchie County Historical Society.
April/May 1973 Newsletter
Information submitted by Winifred Scott
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SELECT COURT SITE       

        It was on Aril 4, 1843, that Daniel Haymond, Daniel Ares, William R.
Lowther, Alexander Lowther and James Malone met at the home of John Harris
for the purpose of organizing and to select a place in which to hold court.

        At the first court Austin Berkley was appointed the first sheriff of
the county.  Following his term  the office was given to the oldest in service
of the justices of the peace of the county and the office was held next by
Benjamin Webb for the years of 1845, 1846, and 1847, John Harris for the
years of 1848 and 1849, Noah Rexroad then held the office until 1851 when
the constitution was adopted which provided for the election of officers by
the people.  Noah Rexroad was elected sheriff and was followed by William
Patton, James Taylor, Benjamin Wells, Eli Heaton, John Heaton, and B. F.
Mitchell.  John Hallum who is reported to be the only democrat to hold the
office served two terms 1877-1881 and 1881-1885.  Others who served were:

Floyd Haymond     1885-1889
Job Musgrave      1889-1893
M. H. Tarleton    1893-1897
Dan Patton        1897-1901
John Hulderman    1901-1905
Ben Hill          1905-1909
Creed McKinley    1909-1913
Okey Nutter       1913-1917
R. L. Warder      1917-1921
Luther Maple      1921-1925
Smith Goode       1925-1929
W. C. Taylor      1929-1933
Ota N. Elder      1933-1937
W. C. Taylor      1937-1941
F. A. Deem        1941-1945
John E. Lowther   1945-1949
H. A. Britton     1949-1953
T. C. Daugherty   1953-1957
James W. Cowan    1957-1961
Fred Dotson       1961-1965
Claude Robinson   1965-1969
W. C. Reeves      1969-1970
Carl Hinkle appointed to complete Mr. Reeves' term.

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